Demountable structure



MalCh 30, 1954 C. MQORE DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1950 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS c. M. MOORE 2,673,659

DEMCUNTABLE STRUCTURE March 30, 1954 Filed June 13, 1950 a sheets-sheet 2 #6 HH" we INVENTOR ,53 /i /50 ATTORNEYS March 30, 1954 c. M. MOORE 2,673,659

DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE Filed June 13, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORAL ZyMaIm'/aole ATTGRNEYS MalCl'l 30, 1954 Q M MOQRE DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 13, 1950 1N VENTOR e/faol'e ATTORNEYS 3. i -.6 ,w M W am M M@ y im W 6 w m Y H|. M m HH 'March 30,1954 c. M. MOORE DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June l5, 1950 I N VEN TOR lgdezilazzzlfwiloaJ/e BY ern ATTORNEYS I March 30, 1954 c. M. MOORE DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 13, 1950 1N VENTOR y Zyae/i! I m1100119 BY am x m.'

ATTORNEYS March 30, 1954 Ml MQORE 2,673,659

DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE Filed June 15, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 im. vill/41, ww

m gia eff v/llll//lllllll/ll/ll; llllllllllllllllll Il INVENT OR m lydejlaalwejlomfe 444 44a rBY Y 4]@ i??? ATTORNEYS March 30, C, M, MOORE DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Shea?l 8 Filed June l5, 1950 nl n l l l l nuulllllll rlllllllll/l 1 l 1 J INVENTOR www0/001e ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED STATES DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURE ClydeMaurice Moore, Richmond, Va., assig'nor to` to YMoorex Industries; Inc;,` Richmond, Va., .a" corporation-of Virginia l Application June-'13, 1950, Serial No. 167,793

6 Claims.' (Cl. 2204-805' which. are proof` against .leakage of either liquids.. or gases. Such containers are expensive andif of relatively ylarge size are customarily returned -to the shipper. They occupy a largeamount of space, bothY duringthe initial shipment .fromthe container manufacturer to the user or during return shipment, after use. .A

simple. demountable container made up of detachable parts so that it can be shipped `in disassembled condition `has, therefore, longbeen a desideratum.v The d'iiiicult'y of. providing, a` demountable leak-.proof container has, however, largely prevented the use of demountableA shipping.. containers.

Also in shipping large containers, such.. as tanks,.a large amount. of spacechas been required and it has beendesirable to ship, such tanksin. sections. It hasf been dii'lcult to provide tanks which can be. easily erected -atthef point ofuse `with. unskilled labor and -a minimum amount of tools so as to provide leak proof structures and in most cases the art has continuedtc ship tanks after being fabricated to final form. Similar considerations applyV to pipes of large size.

Inflaccordance with the present-invention I have provided a demountable structure whereby large sized shipping` containers, tanks, storage bins, large sized pipes and analogous structures maybe shipped. in: sections so as to occupyl a minimum of space. The structures of the pres-l ent inventionl can be easily assembled .at the point of use to provide leak proof structures and in the case of shipping containers can be readily disassembled Iforreturn shipment. Thatis -to say, `shippingcontainers and analogous structures can be repeatedly disassembled and assembled into leak proof structures.

An4 important feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel joint structure which provides a continuous resilient seal extending throughout Yall of. the various joints required for a demountable leak proof structure. The joint includes a resilient and flowable sealing material whichfextendsr 4continuously throughoutv all of the joints in.l thefstructurefv Thev4 continuous sealing material .mayfebe-and usuallyy isfmade iup.

of a. plurality-of owablefsealing elementsfextendingsintoi contact with' each other so asl to transmit pressure rOmone-element-to theI others.- The continuous 'seal` issubstantially; completelyA surrounded Aby the metal or other material from-.- Whichthe structure is fabricated;` That risto say, the fflowablematerial `forming the seal is confined within communicatingclosed: channels. of cavitiesninI the structure. and is placed `under pressure analogous to hydrostatick pressuresothat the variouselementsof flowabl'e material -f making 1 up fthe; continuous seal arecaused to flow together underpressure.k

Avsuitablematerial for the sealing-'elements is aaiiexible substantially, non-compressible 4rubberorrubber-like material. Resilient?v vulcanized rubber compositions are suitable for manyzseal-A ing .purposes accordance'-withV the present `Ainvention and whenl coniinedfr andf placed under pressure ":havecertain of. the=characteristics of a liquid.- That Sis to say; theyare. substantially non-compressible in the :sense-that'they have I substantial. resistance vto having their .volumereduced when placed under pressure-rbutthe material owto fill up =a1l vvoids inf the' conn'ed space. For applications requiringv resistance to.Y

chemicalsv or r oils or grease; various of the syn- .-thetio rubbers :vknown'e 'to 'the farti or 'mixture' of f such synthetic rubbers or with natural rubber are` suitable. Neopreney in'4 iiexible;A resilient form is particularlyysuitable when mineral oils are likelyfto .comeintoicontact with' the #i sealing material. Forfrelativelyhig'h temperaturesfheat resistant owable .plasticimaterialV suchrfas si-li'- cone compositions may befemployedf.;`

In general, in:1the/-'preferred'type1 of sealing structure of the present inventions-the;actual. sealing` contact is *madebetween ntheA edge' off'a plate or sheet and the surface zoffa'ilexible seal-v ing,..element=such=as` discussed` aboveiwfhile the mechanical stresses rareftran'sr'nittedztlfirouglzf'coni tacting7 .surfacesffoir the: metallic :ony other materials from whichfthevmain portions" offithe"y structures-are fabricated. Tlie invention', however; involves-1 a1 novel; j dint structure fevenf. in'- the absence of the sealing elements andilcertainl features :of fthe :j cinta structures of .thel present invention m'aybe if employed effectively Without the sealing elements forLfcontainers-such aslstorage bins for solids whereab'soluteprevention of leakage is notrequiredi- That isfto"say, the wable sealing material maybe omitted orre'- placed by non-owable sealing elmnt." FOX example, sealing elements made of such materials as woven asbestos may be employed where extremely high temperatures are likely to be encountered. In addition to the fabrication of containers, the joint structure of the present invention is useful in the fabrication of large diameter pipe for liquids and gases, and may be employed for air ducts, chimneys, etc.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved demountable structure which may be employed to provide leak proof containers, large diameter pipes, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved demountable structure involving a joint construction in which a resilient owable sealing material extends continuously throughout all of the connected joints in the structure and is placed under pressure.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a demountable structure having a joint construction in which a flexible flowable sealing material is `substantially completely conned within the walls of the joint and is placed under pressure to force adjacent elements of such material to ow into sealing contact with each other and the surfaces to be sealed together.

A further object of the invention is to provide demountable shipping containersl which may be easily assembled into ieak proof receptacles and which may be easily disassembled for return to point of shipment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel joint structure which may be employed to fabricate various types of sheet material into leak proof tanks, pipes, storage bins, shipping containers, etc.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof and illustrated in the attached drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tank in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the tank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal Section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified joint structure in partially disassembled condition;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 6 with the sealing bar removed;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 5 further illustrating the structure of Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified end joint structure;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line Illl0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a further modified end joint structure;

Fig. 12 is a View similar to Fig. 11 showing another modication of an end joint structure;

Fig. 13 is an elevation of a shipping container employing the end joint of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing one Way of terminating the seal for an open end tank or container;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a further modified joint structure;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a large diameter pipe made up of sections;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating how the structure of Fig. 16 may be employed to produce a tank;

Fig. 18 is a bottom plan View of a clamping plate employed in Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 showing an end sealing plate employed in Fig. 17;

Fig. 2O is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 25J-2D of Fig. 16;

Fig. 2l is a fragmentary isometric view of a corner of a plate of a pipe or tank element such as employed in Figs. 16 and 17;

Fig. 22 is an isometric view of a rectangular open top tank employing the joints of Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive;

Fig. 23 is an elevation of a large sized tank also employing the joint structure of Figs. 18 to 21;

Figs. 24 and 25 are partial vertical sections illustrating how tank bulkheads may be incorporated into joints of the present invention;

Figs. 26 and 27 are partial vertical sections illustrating modified joint structures particularly suitable for light weight sheet material;

Figs. 28 to 30, inclusive, are fragmentary vertical sections illustrating one manner of fabricating the sealing bar of Figs. 26 and 27;

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary vertical section of a corner joint structure;

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 31 showing a modified joint structure;

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 31 showing a modified corner joint structure;

Fig. 34 is an isometric view of a rectangular tank structure in accordance with the present invention employing the corner joint of Fig. 31;

Figs. 35 and 36 are elevations of a corner clamping element and a corner sealing element, respectively, employed in the structure of Fig. 34;

Fig. 37 is an isometric view of a rectangular tank employing the joint structures of Figs. 32 and 33;

Fig. 38 is a fragmentary vertical section of a reinforcing structure for the upper peripheral edge of an open topped tank;

Figs. 39 to 42, inclusive, are fragmentary vertical sections illustrating further modified joint structures;

Fig. 43 is a side elevation of a modiiied tank structure;

Fig. 44 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44-44 of Fig. 43;

Fig. 45 is a View similar to Fig. 44 taken on the line 45-45 of Fig. 43;

Fig. 46 is a view similar to Fig. 44 taken on the line i6-46 of Fig. 43;

Figs. 47 to 50, inclusive, are fragmentary sectional views illustrating further modications of sealing joint structures;

Fig. 51 is an end elevation of a modified shipping drum;

Fig. 52 is a side elevation of the drum of Fig. 51;

Fig. 53 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 53--53 of Fig. 51;

Fig. 54 is a side elevation of the two heads of the drum of Figs. 5l and 52 attached together for shipping; and

Fig. 55 is an end elevation showing the side sections of the drum of Figs. 51 and 52 nested for shipment.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the tank of Figs. 1 and 2 may include two semicircular side sections Si and 52 secured together at diametrically opposite points by longitudinal joint structures G3. The tank 60 may also include end walls 64 secured to the sections 6| and 62 by joint structures indicated at 65.

Theitankimay alsorbe-:provded with one. ormore outlets or pipeiixtures66.`

The longitudinal 'joint 63 is shown on azlarge scaleinFig.y 3; The tank sections6| andY 62 are provided with flanged. longitudinal 'edges -providing an inwardlyextending ange 61 having are4 turnr bent portion 68. Theiiange 61'isreceived' in groovesilflin a. clamping bar 16 and is-compressed-into` the lgrooves. 66 by'avsealing bar-1|.

The sealing bar- 1| may beformed of sheet metal and may have afloack portion V12 having its edges formed into longitudinally extending flanges 13 provided with a return bent portionl 14." The flanged portions 13 are formed toA fit within the groovein the-iianges of= thef-tanksections 6| and 62 provided by 4the longitudinal flanges 61 thereonand the return bent portions 68. The iiangesfy Ourthe-.sealing bar 12 provide a partially closed machine screws 18 Vscrew threadedly engaging' complementary threads in the clamping bar 16. It vwill be noted that the edges of the return bent portions 6B of the flanges on the tank sections 6|- and 62 press -into the rubber sealing element 16.

A suitable end seal structure between the tank sections 6|and 62 and the end sections 64 is illustrated in Figsfi and 5. Asshown in Fig. 4, the-end section 64 may-have vits edge portion rolled around a reinforcing wire 86 so as to Drovide a reinforcing portion* 8|; The edge portion maythen extend radially inwardly of the end element 64, then axially inwardly of the tank and may terminate'in a radially outwardly extending portion v82, to provide an annular groove 83 for the'reception of an annular sealing eleu ment 84 of flexible, substantially non-compressible rubber. As also shown in'Fig. 4, the ends of the semi-circular tank sections 6I and 62 may be providedwith a circumferentially extending rib 86. The rib 86 extends inwardly of the tank sections 6| and 62 so as to be engaged by the portion 82 ofthe end sections 64. The extreme ends of the'tank sections 6| and 62 are flanged inwardly at 96 so as to extend partially around the reinforcing portion 8| of the periphery of the end section 64'to retain the'end section 64 in position between the ange 96 and the rib 86. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the ribs 86 terminate shortof the longitudinal joint structure 1| while the flanged portioniSU of the tank sections 6| and 62 continuesl into abutting relationship, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section through the joint structure 1| and the end section 64. It will be noted that the rubber sealing element 16' of the joint structure 1| has its end in Contact with the side surfaces of the sealing element 84.' The portion 82 of the end section 64 has a notch 92v formed therein, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, to receive vthe clamping bar 16such that the end of the clamping bar 10 substantiallycloses the notch 92in the portions 88."

In assembling the tank of Figs. 1 to 5, the ends of clamping bars 16 are iirst placed in the notches 92 of the endy sections 64. The semi-circular tank sections 6| and 62 are then placed on the framework thus provided so that the flanges 6l' thereof enter into the grooves 69 in the clamping bars 10:/ The sealing 'bars 1| vcarrying the screws `18 are theny placed 'in position `and-*fthel screws 4v18 Cil are fthen threaded into the clampingabars-16iands7 tightened. When the .screws :T8-are tightened the flanges of the tank sections 6| and 62ers drawn into the. grooves 69-to tighten the tank sections 6| and'62 aroundthe endssection 64sy such thtt the endflanges 960h the sections 16|' and. 62 engage4 the reinforcing portions 8| on` the endl sections. toV clamp the endsections betweenVVV theflangesA Stand theY portions 8|. Astighten-u ing off the screws 18.y is continued, the end-sec tions Bst-are carnmed-v inwardly by the flangesilllA and 'both the sealing memberf84 and the sealing member 16Iare-p1aced under pressure such that the-sealing member 641s tightlypressed against the interior=surfaces-of the sections Gland 62S The sealing element 16 Vabuts against the sealing element illf and flows longitudinally under pressure to'form asubstantially continuous exible" seal.y Furthermore, the return bent sections 68r of. the Viianges 61 onr the sections 6| and 62are pressedinto the flexible sealing element 161'as` showny most clearly in Fig. 3. Alcontinuous seal` of flexible-flowable material coniinedon all sides by metal `walls and extending longitudinally `of the joint structure 63 and circumferentially' around the ends of the tankl is thus provided:l The flowable material flows into and fills the voids in thesealing channels and exerts resi-lient sealing pressure against the'walls thereof while the mechanical stresses are transmitted through the joints by the metal members-of the'joint structure.

Fig. 6 shows a modication ofthe longitudinal joint structure. This figure showsthe elements'V of the joint-in partially assembled position. As in Fig. 3, the tank sections 6| and 62 are provided with longitudinally extending edge anges 61`4r having return bent portions 66. The sections 6| and 62 are also provided with the -ribs 86; The clamping bar may also be the same as that einployed inv Fig.- 3-but ar modied type of sealing bar $4, which `may be an extruded section, is illustrated. Also the notchV in the end section 961s provided with a struck out supporting portion 68 valso shown in Fig. Stfor supporting the clamping bar 16 during assembly of the tank sections. The sealing bar Qllof Fig. 6 may also-be providedwith an insert of iiexible sealing material |06 and it'will be apparent that tightening 0f the screw 18 will cam the flanged sections 61 of the semicircular tank sections-6| and 62 downv intothe grooves 69 to tighten the lends of the sections'l land 62 around the end sections 96 and cause the edges of the return bent portions 68 to be forced into the sealing element |06. The Sealing joint of Fig; 6 is quite similar to the sealing joint of Fig.- Sand these two figures may bel considered together as showing how tightening of the screws 18 cams the tank sections forming the peripheral walls of the tank intosealing en-` gagement with the end sealing elementl of Figs. 4 and 5.

A modified type of end seal, which may be employed with the longitudinal seal Vshown in either Fig. 3 or 6, isillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In these figures, theend section `has a peripheral reinforcing Arib |2'rolled around a reinforcing wire |04. A retainer ring |66, also shown in Fig. 6, for the end sealing element |68 may be secured Y to the end section 96 in any suitable manner, for example, by spot welding. The ends of the semicircular tank sections ll'and A| |2'may be pro` vided with annularly `extending inwardly directed ribs ||4 Vwhich are pressed into the armularseal` ying element |66" when" the tank is assembled."

The tank sections and 112 may also be provided with ribs 8B as shown in Fig. 7 against which the retainer ring ISG for the sealing element 1118 abuts in the same manner as the portion 82 shown in Fig. abuts the ribs Si. The sections 110 and 112 are also provided with the end flanges 90 which partially surround the reinforcing rib 1132 of the end section 96 for retaining the end sections in position. rEhe structure of Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, has the advantage that a supporting lip or struck out portion 98 is provided for supporting the clamping bar '1S during assembly of the tank and that the rib i presses into the owable sealing material of the sealing element 108 when the tank is assembled to provide an improved seal.

A modified end seal is shown in Fig. 9. This end seal may be employed with any of the arcuate sections making up the cylindrical walls of the tank such as the sections @i and S2 of Fie. l or the sections 1 it! and H2 of Figs. i and 8. The seal of Fig. S is illustrated in connection with an arcuate tank section such as the section 61 of Fig. 1 having the inwardly extending rib and the end ilange 93. The end section HIB of Fig. 9 may be provided with an annuiar flange member 118 suitably secured to the end section, for example, by spot Welding. A clamping ring 12) may surround the ange member 15S and cooperate with the end section 153 to provide an annular recess for receiving a flowabie sealing member 122. A series or" ina-chine screws 1211 disposed about the periphery end n i 16 may extend through this end section and into screw threaded engagement with the clamping ring 529. After the tank has been assembled the screws 124 may be tightened to apply additional pressure to the sealing member 22. This more securely seals the entire tant: strul .ire since the sealing member 122 tends to new into the channels in the sealing bars such as bar 'iii oi Fig. 3 or the bar 94 of Fig. 6 to apply increased pressure to the sealing elements therein. As shown in Fig. l0, the clamping ring 123 or" 9 may be provided with a notch 12S to receive clamping bars such as the clamping bars 'le of Figs. 3 and 6.

In Fig. ll a removable end section or head i253 is illustrated, such removable end section being useful, for example, for shipping containers for solid material. The end section 2E is employed in connection with the modied arcuate tank sections 130 having an inwardly directed rib adjacent its end but having its extreme end formed into a rolled reinforcing rib 132. The end sections 128 may have a retaining ring 13E, of the type shown in Figs. 6 and S, spot welded thereto to provide an annular groove for the reception of a sealing element 84a which may be of the same type as the sealing element shown in Fig. 4. rEhe end section 12S may be dished, illustrated in Fig. 11, and may be provided with a reinforcing ring |38 held in position by the inwardly extending ib 13B. The end section may be inserted into the tank or con after the same tainer has otherwise been completely assembled and may be secured in position by the machine screws |40 extending radially inwardly through the arcuate sections 1311 and received in the sc 'ew threaded apertures in the reinforcing member 138.

The end seal structure of Fig. 11 may be employed with either of the longitudinal joint structures shown in Figs. 3 and ii and the end screws '18 shown therein will ordinarily not be complete- 1y tightened before the end section |23 is in- 8 serted. That is to say, the screws 18 will be sunlciently tightened to prevent leakage from the longitudinal seams and then when the end section 128 has been inserted and secured in position, the end screws '18 (Figs. 3 and 6) will be tightened to cause the ilowable sealing elements of the longitudinal joint to ow against the sealing element 84 of Fig. 11 and place this sealing element also under compression. The sealing element 84 may be slightly larger' in diameter than the inner diameter of the section 13D against which it abuts and also the ends of the sections 130 may be slightly iiared outwardly to assist in inserting the end section 128.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical cross section through an end seal showing an end section 142 which is dished and provided with a filler opening closed by a cap 144. The end section 142 may he provided with a peripheral stiilening rib which may be the same as the rib 102 of Fig. 8 and may also be provided with a retainer ring 56 of the saine type as that also shown in Fig. 8, the retainer ring being spot welded or otherwise secured to the end section 1112 and providing groove for the sealing element 311 which may be of the saine type as the sealing element 54 of Fig. 4. An arcuate 'tank section H16 also shown in Fig.

3 may have an end flange 80 of the saine type Each ci' the arcuate sections 14E may also have sectional reinforcing members 148 secured thereto, icii example, by spot welding or tack wel 1ing. li desired, more than two arcuate secii may be employed and the tank shown lg. i3 employs three such sections each exten-.. .ig 9..proximateiy 120 around the container.

'lhe container shown in Fig. 13 may have the saine end seal structure at both ends and both end seal structures may be protected by the reinforcing members i113. The arcuate sections 1115 may be provided with outwardly projecting reinforcing ribs I'c'G formed therein and may also have reinforcing sections or roller rings 152 suitably secured thereto, for example, by welding. The sealing bars 154 may have the same crosssection as the sealing bar 34 of Fig. 6 and the entire longitudinal joint including the sealing bar 154 may otherwise have the same structure as that shown in Fig. 6 except that the sealing bars 154 may have blocks 15S secured to their outer surfaces to form continuations of the roller rings 152. The container of Fig. 13 is particularly suitable for a demountable shipping container or shipping drum for liquid materials. rlihe ends of the shipping drum are reinforced by einiorcing members M8 and are further protected by the roller rings 152 formed on the arcuate sections 145.

If a container having an open end is desired, Fig. 14 illustrates one manner in which the longitudinal sealing structure may be terminated at such open end. In Fig. 14, a sealing bar 150, which may have the same cross-section as the sealing bar S4 of Fig. 6, may be employed with a clamping bar 162 which may have the same cross-section as the clamping bar '1Q of Fig. 6. The sealing bar may contain a sealing element E54 of fiowable flexible material and the outer wall 16B of the sealing bar |60 may have an extending portion bent inwardly so as to cover the end of the sealing element |64. If desired, a reinforcing ring 110 having an angle iron crosssection-may extend,r around4 the periphery of the openend'of 'the container and .loe` secured thereto inuany suitable manner, for example, by metal cutting screws |12. The portion |68 enables the clamping screws: 19t to be. tightened to place the sealing-;element |154 ,under compression Without causingfextrusion of the sealing element through an open vend .of the sealing bar |60. That is to say, the sealing element itil issubstantiallyfcompletely surrounded by metal walls.

Fig. 15 illustrates a longitudinal joint of the same general type as that shown inFig. 6' but shows the elements reversed so that the joint itself. is positioned on the exterior of a container or'other structure so as .to present a smooth sur face on the interiorofy the container'or other structure. The joint of Fig`v l5 is :particularly useful in structuressuch as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. rFhus Fig, 16 illustrates a large :diameter pipe: made ;up of4 arcuate sections |14 joined at bothjtheir longitudinal edgesand their end edges. Referring againto Fig. 15,',the sections |14 may havetheir edges provided With outwardly extending iianges llt having return bentY portions |18. -As'illustrated in the fragmentary isometric Viewof Fig. 21, the anges Ilmay extend around all edges of the sections |14, Fig. 2l illustrating acorner of such a section. The joint shown in Eig. lmaynalsoA be provided with an outer clamping :bar -lllzhaving substantially the same crosssection asV the clamping bar lo of Fig. 6 and may alsofbe provided with aninner sealing har' |532 Whichhas substantially the same cross-section asLthe sealing `,bar 94` of Fig, 6. i-lowever, both theclarnping bar iand thesealing bar |82 of the joint of Fig. 15k may be provided with. bores forreceiving a 'nat headed machine screw |814 provided with a nut. |85 for clamping the sealing bar |82 and clamping bar |89 together. The longitudinal joints in the pipe of' Fig. 15 are thus made up of the clamping bars |80 and the sealing'bars |32. The joints securing the arcuate endsof the sections |14 .together may. Ahave the same `crossfsection as that shown in Fig. 16, but it will be understood that the clamping bar |88 and corresponding sealing bars Will be arcuate in' longitudinal sections to Vcorrespond to the curvature of the arcuate sections |14.

. At the junctionof the longitudinal joints and circumferential joints, clamping plates |99 ofthe type shown inJ Figs. 16 and 18 may be employed. Theseclam-ping plates |96 may be provided with four extending `arms |92, all .of which may have a cross-section the same as the cross-section of the clamping bar |80 of Fig. l5. Such clamping platesllil will be employed with inner sealing plates. 59| (Fig. 20) .provided with four-corre spondingfarms each having acrossesection the same as that of the sealing'bar |S2-of Fig. l5. A, sealing plate |94 such as is shown in Fig. 19

may be `Vemployed z in an endjoint suchfas the' joint .employing a` clamping plate |95' illustrated in Fig. 17 when it is desiredto construct a tank org-other container with thev sections l'lll ofFig. 16. 4That is' to say, vanendsection |98 may be jo-inedgto the sections llt of Fig.' 1.6. By employingftworend sections such as sections' 98 a closed tankean be fabricated.

.'Fig. :20 .,isa fragmentary" horizontal section taken on the line 20-20 ofFig. 16. This iigure shows the clamping bars ISS/'and the'sealing bars |22 provided iwithfa sealing element |99. It also shows the clamping plate l'lolcooperating with atsealingoplatea tl provided With `a sealing 'ele- 200.- "This view illustrates the 'fact that the sealing element 2il0 -of the sealing plate |9| abuts the ends of the sealing element |99 of the sealing barsl |92 so that in effect a continuous seal of flowable flexible material extends throughout all of the joints in the structure. As explained below, the clamping plates |9t `and Lit` as Well as sealing plates till and |94 may be eliminated and the various clamping and sealing bars of the longitudinal andclrcumferential joints extended and mitered together so as to reduce the number oi separate members required.

Fig. 22 illustrates hovvA a large rectangular tank may be constructed employing the joint structures of Figs.v 16 to 21 but with the various sealing and clamping bars mitered at their intersections. The vertical Walls of the rectangularv tank may be made up of side sections 202 and vertical corner sections" 204 joined by vertically extending joint structures 20G which may be the same in cross-section as the joint shown in Fig. 15. Lower horizontal corner sections 208 maybe provided and also three-Way corner sections j2|0 Where the twoside Walls and the bottom of. the tank structure come together. It will' be vunderstoodthat the side sections 202l have flariges |16 (Fig. 2l) extending around three sides thereof and that various corner sections have such iianges |16 extending around `all four sides. AvvIt will be further understood that the bottom of the tank may be provided with appropriate sections having nanges extending around all four sides. The corner sections208 as well as thecorner sections 2|9 may be secured to the side sections 202 and the corner sections' 204, respectively, by

horizontal joint structures 2lik which-may`also have a cross-section the same as that shownyin Fig. 15. At the junctions of the horizontal and vertical joints, the sealing bars'l82 (Fig. 1-5) with their sealing elements |99 and clamping barsy may have mitered ends as indicated in Fig. 22. 'This provides for abutting relationship between the sealing elements |99 (Fig. 15) so that pressure applied by tightening the'nut's |B5`is transmitted to all of thersealing elements in the various interconnected joints in the tankas will be discussed in greater detail with respecty to a similar joint structure shown in Fig. 4,6. A

structure similar to that shown in Fig.- 14 can beV employed for closing the upper ends of the sea-ling channels in the vertical joints of Fig. 22.

Large scale circular tanks such as illustrated in Fig. 23 may also be fabrioated'from side wall sections Z|4 havinghorizontal joint structures 2|6 Which may be of thesame type as thehorizontal joint structures 2 I2 of Fig. 22 and vertical joint structures v2||l Which may be of the same type as the vertical joint structures 205 oflFig. 22. Appropriate topand bottom corner sections 2| 9 and 220, respectively, may be provided-and it will be understood that suitable top and bottom sections (not shown) will also be provided.'

At the intersections 222 ofthe variousjoints the sealing bars and clamping bars may be mitered together as described with reference to'Fig; 22.

In this connection, it is noted that thev various joints need not necessarily cross `at right angles and the various sealing bars and clamping' bars may be appropriately mitered. In all Aof'the various structures illustrated sealing elements of Aiiexible flowable material effectively extendcontinuously throughout the entire joint system and the sealing and clamping barsprovide reinforcing or st-ifening members 'for the `wall* sections.

`vFig. *24v illustrates a manner of employing-the ijoint* structure off the 'present' invention to provide bulkheads in tank structures. Such a tank may be made up of wall sections 224 having end flanges 226 received within grooves in a cast or forged bulkhead structure 228. A sealing bar which may be the same as the sealing element 94 of Fig. 6 may be employed to clamp the anged sections 226 between the sea-ling bar 94 and the bulkhead 228. A similar structure is shown in Fig. 25, wherein a double bulkhead made of two sheet metal bulkhead sections 238 is illustrated. The bulkhead sections may have peripheral flanges 232 provided with return bent portions 234. The flanges 232 are received in grooves in a clamping bar 236. The flanges 226 of the tank sections 224 are received in the grooves formed by the fianges 232 of the bulkhead sections 230, the sealing bars 238 being secured in position by screws 240 which engage threaded bores in the clamping elements 236. Fig. thus shows a manner of providing leak-proof double bulkheads in tanks such as those employed to deliver fuel oil, gasoline, etc.

Figs. 26 and 27 show modifications of the joint structure of the present invention particularly suitable for light sheet metal. tions 242 of a light sheet metal container may be provided with return bent iianges 244 received within grooves formed in a clamping bar 246 also formed of light sheet metal. A sealing bar 248 may be provided with a sealing element 256 and the sealing element may be secured to the clamping element 246 by means of metal cutting screws 252. The clamping bar 246 may easily be formed by a rolling or die pressing operation and one manner of forming the sealing bar 248 is illustrated in Figs. 28 to 30, inclusive. Thus a channel member 254 may first be formed and a rectangular sealing element 250 placed therein. The flanges of the channel member 254 may then be rolled into the form shown in Fig. 29 so that the edges of the flanges extend inwardly at substantially right angles and a final rolling operation may bend the edges of the channel member into the form shown in Fig. 30 to produce the sealing bar 248. The joint structure of Fig. 27 is similar to that of Fig. 26 and employs the sealing bar 248 and the container sections 242. The clamping bar 256 differs from the clamping bar 246 of Fig. 26 in that it is provided with apertures through which a machine screw 258 freely extends. An auxiliary clamping bar 260 may be provided with screw-threaded apertures for receiving the machine screws 258 for clamping the joint structure together.

Fig. 31 illustrates another modification of a joint structure particularly suitable for corner joints. Sections 262 are provided with flanges 264 bent rearwardly so as to extend at an angle of approximately to the plane of sections 262. Clamping bars 266 and the sealing bar 268 are formed to fit the edge portions of the sections 262. The clamping bar 266 and the sealing bar 268 are clamped together by a screw 210 to press the edges of the sections 262 into the sealing element 212.

Fig. 32 illustrates another modification of the joint structure of the present invention. In this figure the sections 214 are provided with flanges 216 bent at right angles to the planes of the sections and are provided with locking and stiffening ribs 218 adjacent the anges 216. A sealing bar 280 containing a sealing element 282 is provided with a groove for receiving the ribs 218 and are otherwise shaped to conform to the shape of the edges of the sections 214. A clamp- For example, secing bar 284 is also provided and has ridges 286 received in the grooves provided by the ribs 213 of the sections 214 so as to enable the clamping bar to securely clamp the edges of the sections to the sealing bar. A machine screw 226 extends through the clamping bar 264 and is threaded into the sealing bar 288 to force the edges of the flanges 216 into the sealing element 232.

Fig. 33 illustrates a joint similar to the joint of Fig. 32 but adapted to be used as a corner joint. The tank sections 2i4 may be the same as those employed with the joint of Fig. 32 and may have flanges 2 6 and ridges 21C. The sealing bar 238 and clamping bar 266 have, however, been modified so that the two sections extend at right angles to each other.

Fig. 34 illustrates a form of rectangular tank which may utilize the type of corner joint shown in Fig. 3l. Such tank is made up of side sections 292, end sections 234 and top sections 296. It will be understood that bottom sections similar to top sections 296 will also be provided. All of the sections 292, 294 and 296 may have all of their edges formed with flanges similar to the flanges 264 of the sections 252 of Fig. 3l. The intersections of the various edge joints 293 at a corner 300 may be formed by employing clamping plates 382 and sealing plates 384 of the type shown in Figs. 35 and 36. As

L stated above the edge joints 298 may be of the type shown in Fig. 3l employing an outer clamping bar 236. The clamping plate 3D2 of Fig. 35 may be provided with three similar arms 306 all extending at right angles to each other and all having the same cross-section as the clamping bar 26S of Fig. 3l and all provided with bores 338 for receiving the bolts 210 of Fig. 3l. Similarly, the arms 310 and the sealing member 304 all have a cross-section of the same form as the sealing bar 258 of Fig. 3l and are provided with screw-threaded bores 312. The sealing plate 304 is provided with a sealing element 3|4 of flexible fiowable material extending throughout all of the arms thereof. It will be apparent, however, that instead of employing the clamping plates 362 and sealing plates 304 of Figs. 35 and 36, respectively, the clamping bars 266 and sealing bars 268 oi Fig. 3l may be mitered together to provide substantially the same appearance of the corners 3 I 6 of the tank of Fig. 37. The joint of Fig. 31 is not, however, well adapted to intermediate joints between adjacent flat sections such as the joints 3 I 8 of Fig. 37 and in tanks such as shown in Fig. 37, the joints of Figs. 32 and 33 are preferred.

In the tank of Fig. 3'1 the edge joints 320 may be of the type shown in Fig. 33 while the intermediate joints 313 may be of the type shown in Fig. 32. All of the various tank sections 214 may have all of their edges provided with exactly similar' flanges 216 (Fig. 32), the ridges 218 assisting in preventing the sections from being forcibly pulled out of the joint structures. It will be found that the sealing bars 288 of Fig. 32 and the sealing bars 283 of Fig. 33 will miter together at both the corners 3|6 (Fig. 37) and intermediate intersections 322 to provide abutting engagement oi the ends of the sealing elements 232. Appropriate clamping plates and sealing plates similar to those shown in Figs. 35 and 36 may, however, be employed for the corners 316 and intermediate sections 322 if desired to also provide abutting engagement between the various fiowable sealing elements.

A tank similar to the tank of Fig. 37 may also i be constructed with an open top and the strucvertical joints. 1 Thestructure ofFig.u 38 may have vafsealing bar 324 having a portion tting the flange and ridge 218 of the section 214 and a por- .tion containinga sealing-element326of iiowable material. `It may also have a clamping bar 328, also having a portion tting the flange 216 and ridge 2130i the section-214, the sealing bar .324 and clamping `bar 328 lbeing securedtogether with `a:bolt SSBzthreaded-into a .bore `in the-sealing bar 324. AThe sealing-bars 324 can be mitered` to fit thesealing bars 280V of Fig. 32 or sealing bars 288 of Fig. 33 so that the ends of the various `iiowable sealing elements are in engagement .with` each other.

YAlthough one of the. most important.. features ofthe present invention ,is theemployment. of iontstructures in which a flexible. flowable sealin g material extends continuously throughout-all ofthejoints in the structure, themechanical features. of'thepresent joint structure can be employed without employing ,the resilientiiowablesealing material. Thusthe joint of Fig. 39 has substantially the'same construction as the joint .of Fig. '6 except thatthe sealing element of resilient owable material` is omitted. This joint includes an internal clamping `bar 33! having substantially the same form as the clamping bai ofFig. 3 and-anexternal clamping .bar 332. 'Ille-sections. 334' to be rjoined. togetherare .provided with edge 'flanges 336 vhaving return bent portions 333 received 4between the clamping members 330,v and 332 to provide a mechanically strong joint. Such joints are suitable for storage bins and thev like not required to be liquid or gas tight. The joint structure of Fig. 40 is similar tothe joint structure of Fig. 439 and may employ the sarnetype ofinternal clampingv bar 33l to securetogether the same type of sections 33d. Theouter clamping bar 340 may, however, be provided with a longitudinally extending groove in which wires 342 of malleable metal, such as lead or soft aluminum, are positioned. The ends of the return bent portions/338 of the iianges 333 are pressed into the soft metal wires 344. to improve the sealing eiciency of the joint structure. vAnother modiiication of a joint structure not employinga resilient ilowable sealing material is shown in Fig. 4l. -In this gure, the sections 346 are provided with flanges 348 having reversely bent edge portions 350 extending substantially at right angles tothe vplane of the sections 34s. An exterior clamping bar 352 having .groovesl fitting the flanges 343 is provided and an internal clamping bar 354 provided With longitudinal grooves 355 maybe employed to clamp the flanges 343 against the Aclamping bar 354. Thegrooves 356 mayreceive the edge portions 35i! converging inwardly, as shown yin Fig. 41, so that the edge portions-350 are jammed into the grooves353 when the screw1358 is' tightened, to improve the sealing efficiency of the joint structure.

lFig 142' illustrates `a joint structure similarto that 'shown in' Fig. 41 except that it is adapted. for joining sections 360 meeting at rightA angles. The sectionst have edge `flanges 362 reversely bent so as to extend at an angle of approximately 45 to the plane of the sections 360 and the exterior clamping bar/364 is `provided with longitudinalv groovesiitting the edges of the sections 360. An internal clamping biar366 fitting the sections 369 and flanges 362 is provided with .longitudinal grooves. 356yofthe same tyneas those shown. in Fig. 39 and 'it will :be .obyiousthat .tightening ,of

;124 thefscrew 358 Will, jalmv the flanged-362: fint0.the grooves 356 to improve the sealing eilicienoy of the joint. Y

Fig. 43 shows a modied sectional tank structure employing the sealing joints shown Figs. 44 12046, inclusive. The tank of Fig. 43 is shown 'as having' four similar semicircular Wall sections 368, although it is apparent thatlongertanks maybe provided with a large number of sections and that the sections may be less than semicircular in circumferential extent so that three or more sections are employed to complete the circumferential walls of the tank. The sections 368 have inwardly bent flanges 310 (Fig-A4) extending vcompletely around their peripheries, the anges 31B having return bent Aportions 312. The tankV also has end sections 314 provided with inwardly bent flanges 316 extending completely around their peripheries and provided with-return bent portions Sie?. The circumferential sealing joints 38e securing the end sec-tions314. to the wall sections 368 and the circumferentim joint 38! securing the latter sections together aintermediate the ends of the tank may all` have the cross-section shown in Fig. 44 and also; the longitudinal joints 382 may have the same crosssection.

The circumferential end joints 3.80 may have 'arcuate sealing bars 3S4ionrned of heavy'sheet metal so as to provide flangev portions tting the flanges 3i!) and 3256 of the wall sections and end sections, respectively, and providingan internal channel containing a sealing element .385 of owable resilient material. The endjoint Inlay also have an arcuate clamping bar 386 formed of heavy sheet metal and providing flangedportions which fit the reverse side .of the ilangeslll and 33t. The clamping biars 386 are provided with a plurality of screw threaded boresin'which bolts 383 are received, the bolts 388 extending through bores in the sealing bar 384 and the sealing element 365. The, intermediate circumferential joints Bti have the same structure-as tlhe end circumferential joints` 330.

The longitudinal joints 382 may also have `the same cross-section as the circumferentiall joints 380 and 38l and may be provided with straight sealing bars 33t and olampingbars'BQZ. v-As shown in Figs. 43, 45 and 45, the sealing :and clamping bars of the various joints may be mitered together at the intersections of the joints so that the sealing elements 318 of the circumferential joints abut the seal-ing elements `394 of the longitudinal jointsi-n pressure transmitting relationship. In common with the joints previously described having owable resilient sealing elements, tightening of the bolts 388 cams the various sections of thetank together and forces the edge portonsof the peripheral flanges of the various sections into the sealing material. The vsealing material is completely coniined within metal walls and the pressure ap:- pliedthereto causes this material ,tol flow so-as to exert pressure throughout the various intersecting joints. The `walls oi the sealing .bars 380 and 332 shown in Figs. 43 to 46, inclusive, have considerable flexibility such that Ytightening of the bolts 3&3 may flex the walls of the sealing bars .to a limited extent to apply further pressure to the sealing elements. Also in common with structures previously describedrthe tank of Fig. 43 may he repeatedly assembled kanddisassembled .Withut Viirlr'llif 12112. fillly iOatlL'SeSihlS when the tank is assembled.

...Severaln modiications of other "-trnesninfectie.y

which may be employed for tank structures, containers, etc., are illustrated in Figs. 47 to 50, inelusive. In Fig. 47 the sealing bar is of open channel formation and made of rela-tively heavy metal. It conta-ins a sealing element 363 of iiowable sealing material and the flanges 466 of the; sealing bar are adapted to be received in grooves in sections 462 formed by reversely flanging the edges of the sections. The on the edges of the sections extend substantially at right angles to the plane of the sections and have return bent portions also extending substantially at right angles to the planes of the sections 462. A clamping bar 466 may be provided with edge iianges 4l@ fitting the exterior' of the iianges 464 on the sections and a bolt i extending through a bore in the clamping bar 456 and threaded into the sealing bar 366 may be elployed for securing the sections 462 together and applying sealing pressure to the sealing element 398. The sealing element 398 is forced into ene gagernent with both the edges of the flanges 464 of the sections 462 and a portion of the sides of such flanges.

In the modification shown in Fig. 42 the sealing element 414 engages the side surfaces of the edges of the tank or container dl, such edges 418 being overlapped and having bores therethrough for receiving the bolt 4iz'.. The bar 426 containing the sealing element fili: is of channel shape and has its edge flanges engaging in grooves provided by forming ribs adjacent the edges of the sections Lilli. The clamping bar 424 may be of strap material tting between the ribs 422 of the sections 416 and it is apparent that tightening of the bolts M2 which threadedly gage bores of the sealing bar 426 will apply pressure to the sealing element M4 to force it into engageznent with the surfaces of the edges dit? of the sections 4i6.

In the modification of Fig. 49 the sealing bar 426 may be made of relatively thin sheet metal and provides a substantially closed body portion containing a sealing element 426 of resilient iowable material. The edges 436 of the body of the sealing bar 426 are bent outwardly and downwardly and are received in grooves provided by ribs 432 formed adjacent the edges of the sections 434 to be secured together'. The sections 434 also have edge iianges 436 extending substantially at right angles to the planes of the sections, the iianges 435 being adapted to project into the body portion of the sealing bar 426 into contact with the sealing element 428. A clamping bar 436 having a central portion also extending partly into the body portion of the sealing oar may be provided and may have screw threaded bores for receiving the threaded end of bolts 412. It will be apparent that tightening of the bolts 4|2 will compress the body portion 426 of the sealing bar to compress the sealing element, this compression being facilitated by the openings 446 between the body portion of the sealing bar and the edge iianges 436 thereof.

Another modification of a joint in accordance with the present invention is shown in Fig. 50. In Fig. 56 the sealing bar 442 may be of channel section with diverging iiange portions 444. A sealing element 446 of fiowable, resilient material may be positioned within the channel of the sealing bar 442. The sections 448 to be joined together may have flanged portions 456 extending from the plane of the sections at substantially the same angle as the flanges 444 extend from the body of the sealing bar 442 and these flanges may have edge portions 452 extending in substantially the plane of the sections 448. A clamping bar 454 having a cross-section fitting between the flanges 456 of the sections 448 may be forced toward the sealing bar 442 by tightening of the bolt 422 so as to compress the portions 452 of the iianges 456 between the clamping bar 454 and the sealing element 446. In this modification also the sealing element 446 engages flat portions as well as edge portions of the sections 448 and is completely confined within metal Walls so as to iiow under pressure against sealing elements in intersecting joints.

The structure shown in Figs. 51 to 55, inclusive, represents an improved type of shipping drum involving a preferred type of sealing joint. These figures show a shipping drum made up of three similar arcuate sections 456 and two end sections 456 and 466. The arcuate sections 456 are provided with inwardly extending flanges 462 extending completely around their peripheries and having return bent portions 464. The end sections 458 and 466 are also provided with peripheral flanges 466 which extend inwardly and are provided with a return bent outwardly extending portion 468. The fianges 466 of the end sections have the same form as the flange 462 of the Wall sections and the wall sections 456 are secured to the end sections or heads 458 by circumferential sealing joints 4'l6. |Ehe sealing joints 410 include arcuate sealing bars 412 rolled from sheet metal. The sealing bars 412 have their edges rolled into double fianges 414 converging inwardly of the container and provided with return bent portions 416. The return bent portions 416 are spaced from the main portions of the flanges 414 and extend substantially parallel thereto into contact with the bottom of the channel formed by the flanges 414. A sealing element 418 of flexible iiowable material is positioned in the resilient channel and it will be noted that the return bent portions 416 of the flanges 414 provide resilient elements enabling lateral expansion of the sealing element 418 when pressure is applied thereto.

The joints 416 also include an internal clamping bar 480 having edge flanges 482 providing grooves f tting the flanges 466 on the sections to be joined together. Tightening of the clamping bolts 484 which extend through bores in the sealing bars 412 into threaded bores in the clamping bars 486 cams the sections 456 and 458 and forces the edges of the return bent portions 464 and 466 of the iianges 462 and 466 into the sealing element 416. The circumferential joint 466 joining the other end section 466 to the arcuate wall section 455 may be identical With the joint 410.

The longitudinal joint 483 joining the longitudinal edges of the section 456 may also be the same as joints 416 just described except that the clamping bars and sealing bars are straight instead of being arcuate. Also the sealing bars of the joints 488 may be provided with arcuate crossmernbers 496 secured thereto in any suitable manner, for example, by spot Welding, which arcuate cross members 49e form continuations of arcuate roller rings 492 secured to the arcuate sections 456 in any desired manner, such as by Spot Welding. The upper end or head section 458 may be dished, as illustrated in Fig. 53, and the same is true of the lower end section or head 460. Both end sections may be provided with annular reinforcing rings 494 as shown most clearly in Fig. 53 and the upper end or head section 458 may be provided with a filling and emptying opening, closed by a closure member 496.

The sealing and clamping bars at the intersection 498 of the circumferential and longitudinal joints are mitered together in a manner similar to that illustrated in Figs. 45 and 46 and it will be apparent that the shipping container may be easily assembled by merely tting the various parts together and then tightening the bolts 484. By loosening the bolts of one oi the circumferential joints 474 or 435, either end section or head may be removed and reapplied without otherwise disassembling the container.

When the container is disassembled, it occupies much less space than an assembled empty container. For example, as shown in Fig. 54, the two heads 458 and 46c may he secured together using the sealing bars and clamping bars of one of the circumferential joints, such as the circumferential joint 41S. Since the heads are dished, there is 'suflicient room within the smaller y package made lsecuring the heads together to contain the sealing and clamping bars and associated bolts of the other circumferential joint 485. The arcuate sections 455 of the shipping drum nest together, as shown in Fig. 55 and suincient room is provided within the upper section 456 to receive the sealing and clamping bars of the longitudinal joints. A large number of shipping drums, such as illustrated in Figs. 51 to 55, inclusive, may be shipped in a relatively small space when disassembled and may easily be again assembled at the point of use. The shipping drums are reinforced by the sealing and clamping bars of the joints and also by the reinforcing rings eet and the roller rings 492.

In all of the various modifications of the invention described above illustrating the employment of exible flowable sealing material, this sealing material is confined completely within 'peripherally closed channels communicatingwith eachother at the intersections of the joints to form a closed system of intersecting channels. The sealing material is placed under pressure analogous to hydrostatic pressure. The sealing material, in all cases, has suflicient cross-section,

i. e., has suilicient width and thickness, and is sufficiently flexible that it will ow longitudinally of the closed channels so as to transmit the pressure from one sealing element to another in contact therewith. This transmission of pressure between sealing elements insures that any voids between the various sealing elements are completely filled so that no leakage can occur at the intersections of the various joints. Furthermore, the resilient flowable sealing material is pressed into intimate contact with the walls of the peripherally closed channels so as to fill all voids in the channels and provide effective sealing. In the preferred type of joints, the resilient owable material is pressed against the edges of flanges on the members joined together.

Also in the preferred type of joints, any stresses such as tensile stresses tending to pull the joined sections apart are resisted by contact between flange surfaces on the sections and on the sealing and clamping bars. Thus, none of the tensile stresses caused by pressure in the various tanks or containers is resisted by the resilient lowable sealing material. Since the various clamping bars or clamping members and the various sealing bars or sealing members can be made of sufficient size to resist stresses greater than can be withstood by the sections joined together, the joint eiciencies may be made substantially 100%. That is to say, the joints are 'cesspools as strong or stronger than the material of the various sections joined together.

The owable sealing elements may be of any exible or resilient material which willflow under pressure but resists having its total volume decreased by such pressure. The preferred materials have the characteristics of relatively soft vulcanized rubber compositions having substantial resiliency and sunicient body to resist being forced out of the sealing channels through any small openings which may be present due to inaccuracies in the fabrication of the various wall sections, sealing bars, clamping bars, etc. As stated above, vulcanized natural rubber compositions have the requisite properties and the same is true of various synthetic rubber compositions or mixtures thereof or mixtures with natural rubber. The various oil resisting synthetic rubbers including neoprene may be employed for containers or other structures intended for use with mineral oils, and in general, the sealing material will be selected to resist attack by the substances likely to come in contact therewith.

As illustrated in the numerous figures presented, the principles of the joint structures of the present invention are applicable to a large number of structures including demountable or knock-down shipping containers, large tanks, storage bins, large pipes, chimneys, etc. vIt will be apparent that tanks may be provided with bulkheads and may be of the type employed for large scale storage of liquid or other materials or may be of the type employed on trucks for delivery of fluid products to customers. Also, the structures of the present invention lend themselves to the fabrication of demountable underground tanks, such as storage tanks or The joint structures of the present invention may, however, also be employed for light weight containers such as those for paints, lubricating oils, etc., and may be employed for fabricating such structures as trash containers, garbage cans, etc. One of the major advantages of the present invention is that tanks and receptacles of all kinds, large pipes, etc., may be shipped in knocked-down or demounted condition and may be easily assembled at the point of use to provide leak-proof structures.

I claim:

1. In a sealing joint between adjacent edges of wall sections of a separable structure, said wall sections having transverse flanges at their edges, a sealing bar extending longitudinally of said joint and having a longitudinal channel therein, a strip of self-sustaining flexible sealing material in said channel, said flanges extending into said channel in spaced apart relation and in surface contact with the opposed sides of said channel, the edges of said flanges engaging said sealing material, and a clamping bar extending longitudinally of said joint, said clamping bar having portions engaging said wall sections adjacent said nanges and a pressure portion between said langes in said channel, said pressure portion having a surface extending between said flanges in pressure engagement with substantially the entire surface of said sealing material between said flanges.

2. A joint as defined in claim 1, wherein the channel in said sealing bar is undercut outwardly of the edges of said flanges and wherein said strip of sealing material fills said undercut.

3. A joint as defined in claim l, wherein said sealing bar is formed of sheet material with the 19 channel therein dened by outer Walls and return-bent flanges spaced from said outer walls and extending to the bottom of said channels to provide for limited lateral expansion of said strip of sealing material.

4. In a separable sealing joint between adjacent edges of wall sections of a separable structure, said wall sections having generally J-shaped flanges at their edges with the short legs thereof being the outermost edges of said sections, a sealing bar extending longitudinally of said joint and being of generally channel section with the legs thereof formed complementary to and positioned in the space between the legs of said J-shaped flanges with the short legs thereof extending into said channel in spaced apart relation, a strip of self-sustaining flexible sealing material lling the bottom of said channel and engaging the edges of the flanges therein, a clamping bar of generally W-shape formed complementary to and embracing the outer surfaces of said J-shaped anges, the middle rib of said clamping bar extending into said channel between said flanges and having an inner surface extending between said flanges in pressure engagement with substantially the entire surface of said sealing strip between said flanges, and means for drawing said sealing and clamping strips together to confine and compress said sealing strip in said channel and against the edges of said flanges.

5. A joint as defined in claim 4, wherein said sealing strip is an incompressible but flowable rubber-like material.

6. A structure having walls comprising a plurality of Wall sections, a plurality of intersecting sealing joints between said wall sections, each of said joints having separable elements securing edge portions of adjacent wall sections together, one of said elements having a channel extending lengthwise of said joint, means peripherally closing said channel, said means lncluding edges of said adjacent wall sections, a separate sealing element of self-sustaining and substantially incompressible flexible resilient fiowable material lling each of said channels and confined under pressure in each of said channels and in sealing engagement with said edges of said wall sections, said flexible material having a normal transverse sectional area greater than the transverse sectional area of said channels, said channels of said joints being in open communication with each other at the intersections of said joints and providing a closed system of channels, the ends of said sealing elements in said channels being in pressure transmitting but readily separable abutting engagement with the sealing element in an intersecting joint at said intersections whereby confinement thereof in said channels causes flow of said material lengthwise of said joint to provide a continuous seal throughout said intersecting joints.

CLYDE MAURICE MOORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 222,450 Brown et al. Dec. 9, 1879 577,097 Abrahams Feb, 16, 1897 1,376,216 Mittinger Apr. 26, 1921 1,378,725 Ryan May 17, 1921 1,402,949 Nichols et al. Jan. l0, 1922 2,028,058 Geyer Jan. 14, 1936 2,249,106 Baumgartl July l5, 1941 2,402,253 Macleod June 18, 1946 2,447,065 Goodwin Aug. 17, 194B 2,545,481 Maier Mar. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 500,884 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1939 

